Simultaneous diagonalization of an algebraic family of matrices (Q1177242)

In this paper on pairs of matrices with `` property \(L\)'' \textit{T. S. Motzkin} and \textit{O. Taussky} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 80, 387--401 (1955; Zbl 0067.25401)] showed that, if \(A\) and \(B\) are \(n\times n\) complex matrices, and \(A+\lambda B\) is diagonalizable for each \(\lambda\in\mathbb{C}\), then \(A\) and \(B\) can be simultaneously diagonalized. This result was generalized by \textit{S. Friedland} [Linear Algebra Appl. 36, 103--109 (1981; Zbl 0452.15003)] and \textit{W. A. Adkins} [ibid. 116, 101--108 (1989; Zbl 0668.15011)]. In the present paper the author gives a further generalization. Let \(k[[t]]\) be the ring of formal power series in an indeterminate \(t\) over a field \(k\), and let \(k((t))\) be its field of quotients. There is a standard valuation \(v\) on \(k((t))\) for which \(v(t)=1\), and this can be extended uniquely to a valuation on the algebraic closure of \(k((t))\) which we also denote by \(v\). Let \(X\) be a projective variety over \(k\) with function field \(k(X)\). Let \(A=[a_{ij}]\) be an \(n\times n\) matrix over \(k(X)\), and suppose that \(A\) has exactly \(\ell\) distinct eigenvalues in the algebraic closure. For each \(x\in X\) we have the local ring \({\mathcal O}_{X,x}\) at \(x\). Consider any \(k\)-algebra homomorphism \(\sigma: {\mathcal O}_{X,x}\to k[[t]]\); \(\sigma\) can be extended to the localization \({\mathcal M}_{X,x,\sigma}\) of \({\mathcal O}_{X,x}\) with respect to \({\mathcal O}_{X,x}\backslash\sigma^{- 1}(0)\). Let \(D(A,x)\) denote the set of all such \(\sigma\) for which \(\sigma(a_{ij})\) is defined for all \(i\), \(j\), and where the corresponding image \(A_{x,\sigma}\) of \(A\) has exactly \(\ell\) distinct eigenvalues in the algebraic closure of \(k((t))\). If \(A_{x,\sigma}\neq 0\), then we can expand it as a Laurent series in \(t\), say, \(A_rt^r+A_{r+1}t^{r+1}+\dots\) with \(A_r\neq 0\); we then define \(A(x,\sigma)=A_r\) and \(v_{x,\sigma}(A)=r\). The following result is now proved: Suppose that, for each \(x\in X\) and each \(\sigma\in D(A,x)\) the matrix \(A(x,\sigma)\) is diagonalizable over \(k\), and for each pair of distinct eigenvalues \(\lambda\), \(\lambda'\) of \(A_{x,\sigma}\) we have \(v(\lambda-\lambda')\leq 1+v_{x,\sigma}(A)\), then \(A\) is diagonizable over \(k\).